History Film / MysteriousIsland

* TheArtifact: According to Ray Harryhausen, the ammonite was a holdover from a prehistoric theme.

* SpiritualSuccessor: In no small part due to the appearance of the Nautilus, this film is sometimes considered to be an unofficial sequel to Creator/{{Disney}}'s ''Film/TwentyThousandLeaguesUnderTheSea''.

During the American Civil War, a group of Union soldiers are held inside a Confederate prison camp. They stage a daring escape during a storm and steal an enemy observation balloon, but they end up being blown out to sea, where they wind up stranded on a seemingly deserted island. The gang includes Captain Cyrus Harding (Michael Craig), his men Herbert Brown (Michael Callan) and Neb Nugent (Dan Jackson), war correspondent Gideon Spilett (Gary Merrill), and a Confederate soldier named Pencroft (Percy Herbert) who cooperates with the Yankees mostly out of mutual benefaction. They're soon joined by two survivors from a sunken ship, Lady Mary Fairchild (Joan Greenwood) and her niece Elena Fairchild (Beth Rogan), who quickly begins making goo-goo eyes at the virile young Herbert.

Directed by Cy Endfield and featuring special effects by Creator/RayHarryhausen, the 1961 adventure film ''Mysterious Island'' was based on the novel ''Literature/TheMysteriousIsland'' by Creator/JulesVerne (no word on why they dropped the "The" from the title). In addition to Harryhausen's wonderful stop-motion animal used for the creatures of the island, the film also boasts a typically bombastic score by Music/BernardHerrmann, who'd worked with Harryhausen previously on ''Film/The7thVoyageOfSinbad''.

During the American Civil War, a group of Union soldiers find themselves imprisoned in a Confederate prison camp. They stage a daring escape and steal an enemy observation balloon, but they end up being blown out to sea, where they wind up stranded on a seemingly deserted island. The gang includes Captain Cyrus Harding, his men Herbert Brown and Neb Nugent, war correspondent Gideon Spilett, and a Confederate soldier named Pencroft who cooperates with the Yankees mostly out of mutual benefaction. They're soon joined by two survivors from a sunken ship, Lady Mary Fairchild and her niece Elena Fairchild (who quickly begins making goo-goo eyes at the virile young Herbert).

Very quickly, the castaways discover that the island isn't so uninhabited after all! Giant versions of ordinary animals live there, and naturally prey on the new arrivals. In addition, the place turns out to be a hangout for a pirate crew, as well as (unbeknownst to the pirates, of course) the secret base of the infamous Captain Nemo (Creator/HerbertLom). Oh, and the island's central volcano is due to erupt, meaning their stay will have to be drastically shortened unless they wanna get barbecued.

Featuring special effects by Creator/RayHarryhausen, ''Mysterious Island'' was based on the book ''Literature/TheMysteriousIsland'' by Creator/JulesVerne (no word on why they dropped the "The" from the title). In addition to Harryhausen's wonderful stop-motion animal used for the creatures of the island, the film also boasts a typically bombastic score by Music/BernardHerrmann, who'd worked with Harryhausen previously on ''Film/The7thVoyageOfSinbad''.

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Featuring special effects by Creator/RayHarryhausen, ''Mysterious Island'' was based on the book ''Literature/TheMysteriousIsland'' by Jules Verne (no word on why they dropped the "The" from the title). In addition to Harryhausen's wonderful stop-motion animal used for the creatures of the island, the film also boasts a typically bombastic score by Music/BernardHerrmann, who'd worked with Harryhausen previously on ''Film/The7thVoyageOfSinbad''.

* UsefulNotes/TheAmericanCivilWar: Plays a large role in the beginning, but is more or less forgotten about after they arrive at the island.

* AdaptationalVillainy: Pencroft. Sort of. At least at first. In the novel, he's a Northern sailor. Here, he's a Confederate soldier and the heroes' enemy at the beginning.

Very quickly, the castaways discover that the island isn't so uninhabited after all! Giant versions of ordinary animals live there, and naturally prey on the new arrivals. In addition, the place turns out to be a hangout for a pirate crew, as well as (unbeknownst to the pirates, of course) the secret base of the infamous Captain Nemo. Oh, and the island's central volcano is due to erupt, meaning their stay will have to be drastically shortened unless they wanna get barbecued.

* TheGoodCaptain: Harding definitely fits this trope. He's AFatherToHisMen and AnOfficerAndAGentleman throughout the film.

* ChekhovsVolcano: Early on, the castaways climb the mountain for... some reason, and discover it's actually an active volcano. [[spoiler:Guess what chooses to blow its top at the climax?]]

Featuring special effects by Creator/RayHarryhausen, ''Mysterious Island'' was based on the book ''Literature/TheMysteriousIsland'' by Jules Verne (no word on why they dropped the "The" from the title). In addition to Harryhausen's wonderful stop-motion animal used for the creatures of the island, the film also boasts a typically bombastic score by Creator/BernardHerrmann, who'd worked with Harryhausen previously on ''Film/The7thVoyageOfSinbad''.

* IsleOfGiantHorrors: The island is full of Nemo's experiments in gigantism.

* SpiritualSuccessor: In no small part due to the appearance of the Nautilus, this film is sometimes considered to be an unofficial sequel to {{Disney}}'s ''Film/TwentyThousandLeaguesUnderTheSea''.

* ShoutOut: The log bridge the castaways cross in one scene is a deliberate nod to the one in ''Film/KingKong1933''.

* ShoutOut: The log bridge the castaways cross in one scene is a deliberate nod to the one in ''Film/KingKong''.

During the American Civil War, a group of Union soldiers find themselves imprisoned in a Confederate prison camp. They stage a daring escape and steal an enemy observation balloon, but they end up being blown out to sea, where they wind up stranded on a seemingly deserted island. The gang includes Captain Cyrus Harding, his men Herbert Brown and Neg Nugent, war correspondent Gideon Spilett, and a Confederate soldier named Pencroft who cooperates with the Yankees mostly out of mutual benefaction. They're soon joined by two survivors from a sunken ship, Lady Mary Fairchild and her niece Elena Fairchild (who quickly begins making goo-goo eyes at the virile young Herbert).

* TongueTrauma: [[spoiler:The pirates cut out Ayrton's tongue.]]

* SparedByTheAdaptation: Herbert.

* CanonForeigner: Lady Mary and Elena.

* PlummetPerspective: Used in the balloon scenes, particularly when Harding and co. are considering throwing the unconscious Pencroft out. [[spoiler:The sight of how high up they are makes them change their minds and keep him aboard.]]

* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler:Ayrton. His journal reveals that after being abandoned on the island by the pirates, he WentMadFromTheIsolation and decided to kill himself. Considering how his skeleton is found, one assumes he hanged himself.]]

* SparedByTheAdaptation: Herbert.